Forecast: More Heavy Rain

Following Thursday night's heavy rainfall across the area, stand by for a repeat performance. While today will start out somewhat pleasant, it won't stay that way. An intensifying low-pressure system -- the same one which brought killer tornadoes to parts of the Midwest -- will approach the region this afternoon bringing clouds, heavy rainfall (but, fortunately, no severe thunderstorms), and chilly temperatures to the D.C. area. Total rainfall may exceed 2 inches by Monday afternoon.

Increasing clouds, afternoon rain. 60-65. Early morning sunshine will give way to increasing clouds by noon. A developing steady rain will follow, overspreading the entire region during the afternoon. The rain may be heavy at times late in the afternoon through evening. A half an inch or so could fall by nightfall. Temperatures will reach the low to mid 60s. Winds from the east and southeast at 10-15 mph may gust as high as 25-30 mph.

A steady, soaking rain will drench the metro area overnight. Most regions will see about an inch of rain overnight but some localities may see up to 2 inches or more. A stiff easterly wind will blow from 15-20 mph. Lows will drop to around 50 degrees.

Keep reading for the forecast into early next week and see NatCast for conditions for this afternoon's game...

TOMORROW

Rain comes to an end late. Cool upper 50s. Factor in some extra time for your commute on Monday as rain will continue to fall and there may be some flooded areas as well as some water on roadways. A gusty north wind at 15-20 mph, blowing the rain in sheets, adds to the misery. The heaviest and steadiest rain should end by the afternoon but a damp light rain or drizzle may persist into the evening. Highs will only reach the upper 50s.

Overnight still has the chance for a lingering shower. Otherwise it will be cloudy and cool with a brisk north wind. Lows in the mid to upper 40s.

A LOOK AHEAD

Our situation looks much brighter by Tuesday as we start to dry out and warm up. Mostly sunny skies will allow temperatures to approach 70. Confidence: Medium-High

On Wednesday, we'll continue to warm-up with mostly sunny skies and pleasant temperatures in the mid 70s. Confidence: Medium-High

Brian Jackson earned his Master's degree in meteorology from Florida State University in August of 2007. He now works at the National Ice Center in Suitland, MD as a snow and sea ice analyst.

I hope you're right, Augusta Jim, and I also hope ALL the predictions will "underperform." Between the predicted heavy rain and the predicted strong wind gusts and the predicted tornado activity for areas close to us, this is all starting to look pretty scary for the next 36 or so hours. I'm putting pet carriers in the car in advance, in case we gotta run for it.

I had never heard the word 'durecho' until reading the reports on the tornadoes hitting Georgia right now. If you wikipedia that and 'bow echo' it makes some great reading for weather rookies. Nasty stuff.

I had never heard the word 'durecho' until reading the reports on the tornadoes hitting Georgia right now. If you wikipedia that and 'bow echo' it makes some great reading for weather rookies. Nasty stuff.

Weatherdude, looks like they're adding counties to that watch area. I saw Jackson County W.Va. and for an instant misread it as Jefferson. Lost about 5 years off my life right there. And hey, I thought you *liked* exciting weather!?

I see the NWS revised the rainfall amounts downward for points south of DC. However, there is a nasty looking line of storms heading this way. I thought no severe weather was expected. Any thoughts, Capital Weather Gang?

tinkerbelle: The same thing has happened to me before. Like I'll type the sentence "Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions" (taking it from the "post a comment" rules, heh), and the sentence would say "Please Please review the full rules governingoverning commentatataries and Dicussionnsns" and it'll make me look completely illiterate. LOL

And yes, I do like exciting weather, just not when there is a hook echo that's produced "heavy damage" in Stafford on a B-Line straight for Lake Ridge. I would just like a nice, NON tornadic violent thunderstorm now. Stress NON TORNADIC.

But yeah, I still like exciting thunderstorms, but not *that* much excitement.

And might I say that this (http://radar.weather.gov/Conus/centgrtlakes_loop.php) is one of the most awesome looking radars ever? Looks like an inland hurricane.

Like everyone else, I hope the worst of it misses us here. Boat's in the water now, way less safe than on land - I double-checked the lines and she seems sound, but...that marina's been destroyed in wind before.

Despite the forecast of us staying in the cooler, more stable area, I'm not so sure we're going to avoid thunderstorms. We may avoid the turbulent warm sector, which DOES seem to be going south of us, but there are some spots of convection.....some pretty heavy....popping up in this rain area coming in, and what appears to be a squall line further to the SW, moving this way.

Forecasters had the same problem a few nights ago. The models kept the severe weather well south of us, but it moved north and actually struck in Central and Northern VA. into the SE suburbs.

Just went over 1" of rain here in NW Spotsy. After this clears out, it looks like a lull for 2-3 hrs & then another batch of rain will move into the area. I don't think the next round will quite as heavy.

I dont see the underperforming, but a large L with a comma shaped rain shield...I think Augusta Jim is getting dry slotted - but those of us just east of the mountains are pretty wet. I have 2.05 inches in the LoCo bootheel which seems to be a sweet spot since we are in the foothills just east of the Bull Run Mountains...I dont see any reason why we wont crack 3 inches. I remember when 2.05 inches of rain was what we got for pretty much all of August and September. Now we get it in four hours...twice a week. Oh, and Flood Warning just issued for here...standing water on Rt. 50 near Aldie, within a few miles of here...blech...

Here in LoCo, rain pooling in the street and a pond in my driveway. Oh, and I'm at the top of a hill. When do you guys think this batch of heavy rain will let up? The edge of the rain is near Winchester, and not moving east very quickly.

The wind is absolutely terrifying out here (Harpers Ferry). It is literally HOWLING. And my house always takes the wind like a sail, so I am a wreck. "The Wreck of the Tinkerbelle." My next home, she vowed, will be a little Hobbit house, at least half subterranean.

Well i think the drought has kind of lost it's punch over the last 2 months. at least here because we've been in the center of all the rain recently. In April we got 7 inches of rain and we got 5 inches of rain just last thursday-saturday. And so far today we have 2 inches. So that means if my math is correct that in the last month and 10 days we've gotten 14 inches of rain. Average for the last month and a bit is something like 5 or 6 inches so we are really killing the drought right now...
P.S. I live in MoCo County.

FFX Co. Emergency Operations reporting numerous emergencies and road closures. Water rescues currently "ongoing" in Herndon and Chantilly areas. Currently very heavy rain here in Herndon and been so for many hours now.

A very interesting day weatherwise. My area received only .50-.60" rainfall from a 2.00-3.00 inch potential. Madison County about 75 miles s.w. of D.C. averaged .75 at 6 p.m. with very little since then. No rain in my area since 4 p.m.

As I predicted this morning, the D.C. region has certainly been the demarcation zone between moderate and heavy rainfall with radar estimated QP totals ranging from .75 to more than 2.50 within a 20 mile distance in the Warrenton area.

Unfortunately, some in the D.C. area are receiving excessive rainfall again. Hopefully, no serious damage or injuries will result.

Argh! Don't say 'hurricane', weatherdudeVA! River gauges spiking....the GW Parkway flooding out...my little boat is right there, and I'm so afraid she'll be ripped from her dock by super-high water and wind.

Not to trivialize the flooding situation, but for all of us who like to complain about the D.C. hole -- that is, the metro area seeming to always miss out on the brunt of the storm -- the current radar loop in this post above is quite a site to see.

Have the plans for an ark laid out...am debating whether I need to start building or not.

I am curious as to what the rivers and roads will look like tomorrow...I usually back-route to the office in Chantilly using Westfields, which then turns into Old Centreville...there is a creek there that was already pushing the banks on Friday, and has one of those ominous 5-foot measuring posts beside the side of the road. My guess is that will be off-limits in the morning.

I live just up Old Centreville Road a few miles from that area you're talking about. I'd check news reports in the morning before taking that route tomorrow, if I were you. I know that the flooding is especially bad in the Herndon/Chantilly areas tonight, so tomorrow, there will be problems.

We're getting serious wind in Annapolis. I am studying for a Greek final tomorrow-- and the lights keep blinking on and off. We live under lots of large trees and I have heard several good sized branches crack and fall. A little too much excitement for a girl trying to study!! It's getting a bit scary.

Police are out in Huntington getting residents to move their vehicles off of the lowest-lying streets -- feels like a rerun of 2006 (not good). The other thing that feels like a rerun is tinkerbelle's observation that this system does not seem to be moving off. Different type of system from '06, but the same dreaded sense that you don't know when it will end.

Har. I just used an ancient Property Law tombstone to brace a flailing downspout, flailing b/c of 40-mph blasts. Took more than a casebook, though. Had to call in the big guns: 17-lb plastic tubs of kitty litter! A rare occasion when duct tape wouldn't do the job.